Truss



E. E. PRANCE Feb. 3, 1948.

' TRUSS Filed Jan.- 18, 1946 VENTOR. 6244/0L/ Patented Feb. 3, 1948UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My present inventlon has for its object to provide an improvement intrusses for the treatment and relief of persons suffering from a rupture er hernia, and it comprlses an abdominal pressure member made Withright and left band portions so connected at their lower ends that thelrupper ends may be adjusted laterally relatively co each other, and theirpoint of connection drawn rearwardly under the crotch between the legecf the wearer for alle dual purpose of providing an adequate support tothis portion of the anatomy and also more firmly anchoring the apparatusfor bearing against the point of rupture.

My invention also has for ics object to provide a truss especlallydeslgned for the treatment and relief of so-called 10W ruptures in thegroin.

Another object of my invention is to furnish an abdominal bearing memberfor a truss in which provision is made for the relative lateraladjustmant of two members er connected 590- tions which renders themparticularly adaptable for adjustment to the bodies of men of difierentsizes and is especially serviceable for the treatment and re1ief ofdouble hernias, i. e. where ruptures occur 011 opposite sides of themedian llne cf the abdomen.

T blasse and other ends my invention embodies further additionalimprovements all as will be fully described in the accompanyingspecification, the nove1 features thereof belng Set forth in theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front vievv of a truss showing one embodiment cf myinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof the devlce being shown in itsnormal position.

Figure 3 is also a front elevation showing the sections of the bodymember expanded laterally.

Figure 4'is a side elevation of the body member illustrating one of thepositions the lower end of said member Will assume when in use.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable center fasteningespecially adapted for use in securing the various belts or straps inadjusted position.

Figure 6 ls a perspective view cf a buckle f0r use in securing thevarious belts o1 straps in adjusted position.

Simllar reference numerals in the several figures indicate similarparts.

A breech occurring in the muscular Walls of the lower abdomen resultingfrom accident or otherwise if unattended may quickly resu1t in seriousdamage and require prompt treatment either surglcally or by theapplication of a truss fitted to the point of separation of the musclesin a manner proper 130 prevent the protrusion of the omentum and otherstructures contained in the peritoneum. T0 this end I have provicled astructure which is adapted to be W0rn as a palliative measure during theperiod the patient is undergoing scientific treatment, er wornpermanently when such treatment is not available, or as well as in themore severe cases in which the hernial sac is not replaceable. -Mystructure is adapted for use in those cases generally c1assified asinguinal, femoral and. umbilical hernias and is particularly serviceablein cases Where double hernias occur, one ab each side of the body.

In carrying out my invention I provide a body bearing member intended tofit tightly against the lower area of the body contlguous to the upperends af the thighs generally defined as the groin, and to engage betweenthe latter in the area anatomically referred to as the crotch. Thismember is composed of right and left band partS indicated by A and B,respectively. They are united at their lower ends by a flexible neckportion C above which their contiguous edges are shaped as shown in Fig.1 to provide a space for the accommodation of the penis and scrotum. Attheir upper adjacent edges the parts A and B are united by anarticulated connection which permits them to independently conform t0the body movements of the wearer while holding them in their adjustedposition.

As lt is also a function of this member to control the spacing of theupper ends of the parts A and B I construct it of two clips a and bwhich are adjustable toward and from each other by spacing screws 1 and2. Each clip is provided on its rear unter end with a hook a'b' whichengages beneath wire loops 3 and 4. The latter lie close to the outerfaces of the members A and B and are secured by embedding their ends insaid members in any approved manner during the operation of formlngthem. The latter becomes a speclal ich in many instances accordlng tothe specification5 required fit the truss to individual requirements. Onthe outer upper corners of each part A and B similar loops 5 and 6 arelocated in slight depressions, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, andengaging with them are the buckles by means of which the waist band orbelt l is securecl. These buckles, illustrated particularly in Fig. 6,comprise a base platze 8 having a tilting belt gripper 9 on its outerface and at its forward edge a tongue which is curled be made ofaeomparatively thick sheet of rubber;

as indicated in the side elevational views Figs.

2 and 4. Alternate layers of rubber and fabrie-- vulcanized may also beused. However, it will be.

seen that whatever the form of the flexible memleer may be the buildingup of its upperportion .able laterally, said sections being rigid attheir to provide the usual pressuremds will inereaae. the stiffness cfthat portion of the member." The forward ends of these bands or straps;a1ie pro--2 vided with hooks e andif which engage loops e,

f lqcated. 011 theforward portionsfthe necks in 'Sllhp positionthatthese -strapsdrawagainst the -:lowermost points -or. edges-pf: the neckC; These e straps extend olivergently -under the but-t tocksand;thenceupwardly; their free enolsbeing attached-in any.=suitablemanner to therear-side portions-of-the waist band; hence; lt will be-seen that the-tension placed: .:upon -them will cause the flexible:neck .G and itsmore flexible extremity tobe-drawn tightly intoengagement with-the1owermost:point of: the wearers abdomen;

The vertical;length of' the parts-. A.:and. B: is sufiicieht :.to Coverthe araa;in which: the :hernia ha.s ideveloped-.z In most cases; this.1Wi1l ;be; found tolle inztheregionof Pouparts: :1igament lwhiehis.a:'strongly.markedliqe0n. the front ofa per- 5 therethrough from=t-he seminal-x1esicles inside the abdonien which Iorms apotentialtopening. On the inner =face of. either the part A 01#B o1 4 an both asoccasion may require, there is placed an enlargement G in the exactposition required. which will press against the spot on the abdomenwhere the line of cleavage between the muscles has occurred as a resultof intra-abdominal pressure. The size of this enlargement Will bedetermined. and formed as required to prevent the extension of a loop ofthe intestines or omentu-m thusl0fferiig- ;resistance 'tojthedispla'cement of the visceran Wha.t I cla.im and. desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

1. A truss comprising a. body member composed of separate right and lefthand sections united attheir lower ends and relatively ac'ljustupperportions and increasing in flexibility towarcl;their lower extremites,an adjustable counection between theirr upper ends, and. body straps;connected=tu said .sections.

2. Altruss comprising s'iinilar v fleht. .and vvleft hand sectionsrigid.atlthzinupper ends with in-. creasing flexibility towa.rd theirlowr ends. where they:are flexiblyattachedto. each .other,..metalloops'attached to the outerfacesof themembers, a. waist belt havingbuckles provided .ivvith h0oks engaging tw o of said=loops.znd. legstraps .having. hooksengaging other ofsaid loopsand arranged. to defiectthe connection= between the sections in a directiontransversely.thereof.- M 1 EDGARE. PRANCE.

REFERENCES CI'IED The .followirig ;referenesr. eure :zof: riecond.1riithe file of this paten'tr-m UNITEDSTATESZPATENTS

